Inhaler

ABSTRACT

A passive inhaler for delivery of a powder-form inhalation formulation from a blister strip with a plurality of blister pockets is proposed. The inhaler includes an impaction element onto which the air stream can impact together with entrained inhalation formulation for better deagglomeration. Alternatively, the inhaler includes an oscillating and/or vibrating device for better de-agglomeration of the inhalation formulation. Alternatively or additionally, the inhaler includes one or two mixing means for generating swirls, preferably with opposite rotation directions.

The present invention relates to an inhaler according to the preamble ofone of the independent claims.

The present invention relates to an inhaler for delivery of apowder-form inhalation formulation from a blister strip with a pluralityof blister pockets (also called blisters) containing the inhalationformulation in doses.

GB 2 407 042 A discloses an inhaler with a rolled-up blister strip. Theinhaler comprises a manually operated, pivotable actuator, whichoperates a conveyor for stepwise moving the blister strip. The actuatorsupports a piercer and an associated mouthpiece. By pivoting theactuator, the blister strip and be moved forward and blister pockets ofthe blister strip can be pierced one after) the other. When a patientbreathes in an air stream passes through the previously pierced blisterpocket, with the result that the inhalation formulation in the blisterpocket mixes with the air and is discharged to the patient.

The present invention relates to passive inhalers, i.e. inhalers wherethe patient or user breathes in to generate an air stream, whichentrains the inhalation formulation and forms the desired aerosol.Problematic is the deagglomeration of the inhalation formulation and toensure that the aerosol mainly contains only fire particles, preferablyin the range of 2 to 10 μm, in particular 2 to 7 μm, of the inhalationformulation.

Object of the present invention is to provide an inhaler with optimizeddischarge characteristics.

The above object is achieved by an inhaler according to one of theindependent claims. Advantageous embodiments are subject of thesubclaims.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the inhalercomprises an impaction element for impaction and/or deflection of theair stream with entrained inhalation formulation, This allowsoptimization of the discharge characteristics. in particular, largerparticles of the inhalation formulation can impact onto the impactionelement and, thus, in particular split up into finer particles.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, which can berealized independently, the inhaler comprises a mixing means forgenerating a swirl or cyclone of air within the inhaler. This supportsbetter mixing and in particular deagglomeration of larger particles ofthe inhalation formulation entrained by the air.

Most preferably, the impaction element and the mixing means are combinedin order to achieve optimized discharge characteristics. Then, themixing means is preferably located upstream of the impaction element.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, which can berealized in combination with or independent on the above aspects, twomixing means for generating swirls or cyclones with opposite directionof rotation are provided. In particular, the two mixing means arearranged one after the other or axially one above the other. Thus,optimized de-agglomeration of the inhalation formulation can beachieved.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the inhalercomprises alternatively or additionally an oscillating and/or vibratingdevice for supporting de-agglomeration of the inhalation formulationand/or for vibrating the blister, a feeding path, a piercing member orany other component of the inhaler. This enables or ensures betterde-agglomeration of the inhalation formulation and, thus, optimizeddischarge characteristics.

Preferably, the oscillating and/or vibrating device comprises anoscillating element, such as a ball, located within or upstream thefeeding path and being operated by the air stream flowing through theinhaler, in particular its feeding path, when the inhaler is operated orused.

In particular, the oscillating and/or vibrating device and/or itsoscillating element forms an impaction and/or deflector means, whichsupports de-agglomeration of in particular large particles of theinhalation formulation entrained by the gas stream flowing through thefeeding path and, in particular, impacting onto the oscillating element.

Alternatively or additionally, the oscillating and/or vibrating devicesets in vibration preferably at least part of the inhaler and/or blisterstrip, in particular the feeding path, a piercing member and/or therespective blister pocket itself. This allows or ensures optimizedloosening and/or de-agglomeration of the inhalation formulation from thereservoir, in particular blister pocket.

Preferably, the inhaler comprises in addition to or in combination withthe oscillating and/or vibrating device also a mixing means forgenerating a swirl or cyclone, preferably in the feeding path. Inparticular, this mixing means is located upstream the oscillating and/orvibrating device. This combination allows achievement of very gooddischarge characteristics, in particular much better de-agglomeration ofthe inhalation formulation than the prior art.

Further aspects, features, properties and advantages of the presentinvention are described in the claims and the subsequent description ofpreferred embodiments, with reference to the drawing. There are shownin:

FIG. 1 a schematic sectional view of an inhaler without mouthpiececover;

FIG. 2 a schematic sectional representation of the inhaler with closedmouthpiece cover;

FIG. 3 an enlarged sectional view of the inhaler in the region of amouthpiece and a piercing member;

FIG. 4 a sectional view of an insert within the mouthpiece;

FIG. 5 an enlarged sectional view of another inhaler in the region of amouthpiece and a piercing member; and

FIG. 6 an enlarged sectional view of a further inhaler in the region ofa mouthpiece and a piercing member.

In the Figures, the same reference numbers are used for identical orsimilar parts, even if a repeated description is omitted. In particularidentical or corresponding advantages and properties then also result ormay be achieved.

FIG. 1 shows in a schematic sectional representation an inhaler 1.Preferably, the inhaler 1 is portable, works only mechanically and/or ishand-held.

The inhaler 1 serves to deliver a powdered inhalation formulation from aband-shaped blister strip 2. The blister strip 2 is finite, not formingan endless or closed loop. It has a large number of blister pockets 3respectively containing directly a dose of the loose inhalationformulation. Thus, the formulation is pre-metered.

The inhaler 1 has a reservoir 4 for the still unused blister strip 2with closed (sealed) blister pockets 3. The blister strip 3 is rolled upor wound up in the reservoir 4. In the representation example thereservoir 4 is formed such that the blister strip 2 can be movedoutwards or pulled out of the reservoir 4 as easily as possible.

In the representation example the blister strip 2 is directly receivedin the reservoir 4. However, instead of this a cassette, a container, adrum or suchlike can also be fitted or inserted with the blister strip 2into the inhaler 1 or the reservoir 4.

The inhaler 1 has a conveyor 5 for stepwise onward movement of theblister strip 2 in direction of arrow 5 a by one blister pocket 3, inorder to feed the blister pockets 3 successively to an opening and/orremoval position 6 where the respective blister pocket 3 is opened andcan be emptied.

The blister pockets 3 can be opened respectively preferably by means ofa piercing member 7 which punctures or cuts open a lid of therespectively aligned blister pocket 3 in position 6. The piercing member7 is hollow and/or in fluid connection with an adjacent mouthpiece 8 ofthe inhaler 1.

During or for inhalation a patient or user, not represented, places themouthpiece 8 in his mouth and breathes in. The respectively openedblister pocket 3, into which the piercing member 7 extends, is therebyemptied by sucking in. An air stream 9 of ambient air is sucked in andpassed through the opened blister pocket 3 such that loose powder 10(forming the inhalation formulation and being schematically shown inFIG. 1 only in the actually opened blister pocket 3 below mouthpiece 8)is dispensed with the sucked-in ambient air as an aerosol cloud 11 viathe mouthpiece 8. This situation is schematically represented in FIG. 1.

The inhaler 1 has a preferably manually actuatable, lever-like actuator12 being pivotally mounted to a housing 12 a of the inhaler 1. Thepiercing member 7 and the mouthpiece 8 are attached to and supported bythe actuator 12.

The actuator 12 is operable (pivotable) to cause the piercing member 7to puncture the lid of the respectively aligned blister pocket 3 inposition 6 below the mouthpiece 8.

When the actuator 12 swivels from the position shown in FIG. 1 (hereanti-clockwise) to the partially opened position shown in FIG. 3, thepiercing member 7 is withdrawn from the last-pierced blister pocket 3.

Then, the blister strip 2 is moved forward by one blister pocket 3, sothat the next blister pocket 3 is moved in position 6. This will beexplained in more detail later.

When the actuator 12 swivels back into the position shown in FIG. 1,i.e. is manually moved back, the next aligned blister pocket 3 of theblister strip 2 is punctured by the piercing member 7 and therebyopened. Then, the next inhalation can take place, i.e. the inhaler 1 isactivated.

The inhaler 1 has a receiving space or apparatus 13 to receive or storethe used part of the blister strip 2. The receiving space or apparatus13 is formed such that the used part can be wound up. FIG. 1 shows asituation with essentially filled reservoir 4 and still essentiallyempty receiving space 13.

The conveyor 5 comprises a conveying wheel 14, which can engage betweenthe blister pockets 3 and thus convey the blister strip 2 inform-locking or form-fit manner. This allows very secure or precisemoving or indexing of the blister strip 2 as desired and/or necessary.

The conveyor 5 or its conveying wheel 14 is arranged between thereservoir 4 and the receiving apparatus 13, in particular between theremoval position 6 and the receiving apparatus 13, thus after theemptying of the blister pockets 3.

The pivot axis of the actuator or lever 12 is coaxial with the rotationaxis of the conveying wheel 14. In particular, the actuator or lever 12may be supported by an axle of the conveying wheel 14.

The inhaler 1 comprises a mouthpiece cover 15. The mouthpiece over 15 isnot shown in FIG. 1, which explains only the basic principle of theinhaler 1, but in FIG. 2, which shows a more realistic, but stillschematic sectional view of the inhaler 1. FIG. 2 shows the inhaler 1with closed mouthpiece cover 15, wherein the blister strip 2 has beenpartly omitted for illustration purposes. FIG. 3 shows the inhaler 1with completely opened mouthpiece cover 15.

The mouthpiece cover 15 is pivotable around a cover axis 16, which isindicated in FIGS. 2 and 3 and extends perpendicular to the drawingplane in the present representation.

The pivot axis of the actuator 12 extends coaxial to or with the coveraxis 16. The rotation axis of the conveying wheel 14 extends coaxial tothe cover axis 16 and to pivot axis of the actuator 12.

The conveyor 5 or its conveying wheel 14 is driven by the mouthpiececover 15, namely by the pivotal movement of the mouthpiece cover 15. Inparticular, the blister strip 2 is moved forward, when the mouthpiececover 15 is opened. Preferably, only part of the opening movement of themouthpiece cover 15 actuates or operates the conveyor 5 or its conveyingwheel 14 to move the blister strip 2 forward,

FIG. 3 shows in an enlarged sectional view the piercing member 7 withthe mouthpiece 8 and an opened blister pocket 3 in the removal position6. it can be seen that the piercing member 7 or inhaler 1 preferablycomprises an insert 17, which is connected to the mouthpiece 8 and, inparticular, extends into an outlet space or tube 18 of the mouthpiece 8.

The insert 17 is located adjacent to the piercing member 7. Inparticular, the piercing member 7 forms or holds the insert 17 or viceversa.

Preferably, the insert 17 is held form-fit within the mouthpiece 8 orits outlet tube 18. However, other construction solutions are alsopossible.

The inhaler 1 or mouthpiece 8 comprises preferably at least one, heremultiple air openings 19 through which the air stream 9 of ambient aircan flow in.

The piercing member 7 and the mouthpiece 8 and/or the insert 17 form afeeding path 20 for the air which has been flown through the openedblister pocket 3 and, in addition, a bypass path 21 for air bypassingthe blister pocket 3. Both paths 20 and 21 end preferably within themouthpiece 8 or its outlet tube 18 and/or at a mixing zone 22 where therespective streams through the paths 20 and 21 mix.

In particular, the air stream 9 entering through the air openings 19 issplit up into a feeding air stream 23 flowing through the opened blisterpocket 3 and then through the feeding path 20, and into a bypass airstream 24 flowing through the bypass path 21.

FIG. 3 shows schematically the aerosol generation when the air flows.The feeding air stream 23 flowing through the opened blister pocket 3entrains the inhalation formulation (powder 10) and flows into themouthpiece 8 or its outlet tube 18, in particular to the mixing zone 22where it mixes with the bypass air stream 24. Thus, the aerosol cloud 19is generated as schematically shown in FIG. 3.

In the present embodiment, the piercing member 7 preferably comprises atleast one, here two piercer elements 25 and 26 as shown in FIG. 3.

The first piercing element 25 serves to form a first blister opening(inlet opening) in a lid 27 of the blister pocket 3 as shown in FIG. 3.The second piercing element 26 forms a separate, second blister opening(outlet opening) in the lid 27 as schematically shown in FIG. 3. Thus,the feeding air stream 23 can flow in through the first opening and outthrough the second opening. The second opening is fluidically connectedor connectable to the feeding path 20. to The feeding path 20 is formedby or comprises here preferably a channel 28 within the piercing member7 and/or insert 17 for guiding the air with entrained inhalationformulation. The channel 28 is preferably at least essentially straightand/or opens to the mixing zone 22 in the present embodiment.

The channel 28 may taper towards its outlet end. However, the channel 28may also have essentially a constant inner diameter or cross sectionalarea or taper in the opposite direction.

The channel 28 is preferably cylindrical or circular in cross section.However, the channel 28 may also be oval. The same applies for theoutlet tube 18 and/or mouthpiece 8.

In the present embodiment, the bypass path 21 leads through or is formedby at least one or two preferably tangential or radial bypass channels29, preferably formed by the insert 17, connected to the mixing zone 22and/or a preferably common mixing chamber or outlet channel 30. Here,the outlet channel 30 has a larger diameter than channel 28. However,other constructional solutions are possible.

Preferably, the outlets of the feeding path 20 (channel 28) and of thebypass path 21 (bypass channels 29) are located as close as possible.

In the present embodiment, the bypass path 21 opens radially and/ortangentially with its outlet(s) into the preferably centrally arrangedfeeding path 20, channel 28, outlet channel 30 and/or mixing zone 22.However, other constructional solutions are possible.

The inhaler 1 comprises preferably an impaction element 31 for impactionand/or deflection of the air stream 9 with entrained inhalationformulation. In particular, the feeding air stream 23 with entrainedinhalation formulation can impact onto the impaction element 31 and/oris deflected by the impaction element 31.

In particular, the impaction element 31 is located centrally inalignment of the feeding path 20 or channel 28 or 30 and/or covers thefeeding path 20/channel 28 radially or transversally to the main oroutlet direction. Thus, at least the feeding air stream 23 is deflectedand/or has to surround the impaction element 31.

In the present embodiment, the impaction element 31 comprises animpaction surface 32 inclined to the main or outlet direction of thefeeding path 20, channel 28 and/or mouthpiece 8. In particular, theimpaction element 31 or its impaction surface 32 is at least essentiallyconical.

Preferably, the impaction element 31 is stationary. However, it is alsopossible that the impaction element 31 is moveable.

Preferably, the impaction element 31 is located within the mouthpiece 8,preferably within or adjacent to the insert 17 and/or the feeding path20, mixing zone or chamber 22 and/or outlet channel 30. in the presentembodiment the impaction element 31 is located at the end or downstreamthe feeding path 20. The impaction element 31 is preferably attached toa tube or wall 33, preferably of the feeding path 20 or insert 17 ormixing chamber 22 or outlet channel 30, in particular by means of ribs(not shown) or the like.

It has to be noted that FIG. 3 shows only very schematically, inparticular not in scale, a potential construction. Other constructionalsolutions are possible as well.

Preferably, the inhaler 1 comprises a (first) mixing means forgenerating a swirl or cyclone 34, in particular in the mouthpiece 8,feeding path 20, bypass path 21, outlet channel 30 and/or mixing zone 22as schematically shown in the horizontal sectional view of the inhaler 1in the area of the mouthpiece 8 according to FIG. 4.

Preferably, the mixing means is formed by or comprises the at least oneor two bypass channels 29 feeding tangentially and/or transverselybypass air into the feeding air stream 23 or the mouthpiece 8, mostpreferably into the outlet channel 30, the mixing zone 22 and/or thefeeding path 20. However, other constructional solutions are possible.

The mixing means allows or ensures better mixing of the feeding air withthe inhalation formulation and/or of the bypass air with the feedingair. This supports better deagglomeration of the inhalation formulation.In particular, the swirl or cyclone 34 generated by the mixing meanssupports deagglomeration of in particular larger particles of theinhalation formulation.

Most preferably, the mixing means forms or defines the mixing zone 22.

In the present embodiment, the impaction element 31 and the mixing meansare preferably combined. Then, any intermediate wall between channel 28and channel 30, i.e. between the feeding path 20 and the bypass path 21,may be omitted. Alternatively or additionally, the impaction element 31is preferably located downstream the mixing means and/or the mixing zone22.

However, it is also possible to provide only one of the impactionelement 31 and mixing means.

FIG. 5 shows in a schematically sectional view similar to FIG. 3 anotherpreferred embodiment of the inhaler 1 according to the presentinvention. The following description focuses on relevant differences sothat the previous descriptions, advantages, aspects and/or featurespreferably apply in addition or in a similar manner.

Alternatively or additionally to the impaction element 31, the inhaler 1comprises an oscillating and/or vibrating device 35 which is alsopreferably used in combination with the mixing means, but could also beused separately.

The oscillating and/or vibrating device 35 is located or realizedseparately from the reservoir formed by the blister strip 2. It supportsdc-agglomeration of the inhalation formulation and/or generatesvibrations, in particular vibrates the blister strip 2, the blisterpocket 3, the feeding path 20, the piercing member 7 and/or any otherelement or component of the inhaler 1. Due to the vibrations, better orquicker loosening and/or de-agglomeration of the inhalation formulationcan be achieved.

The oscillating and/or vibrating device 35 preferably comprises anoscillating element 36, which is preferably moveable by the air stream9. In particular, the element 36 is set in vibration or oscillation bymeans of the feeding air stream 23 and/or bypass air stream 24.

The element 36 is preferably essentially ball-like, in particular aball. However, it can have any other suitable form, for example alongitudinal, egg-like or any similar form. In particular, it ispossible to tune the oscillating/vibration frequency by variation oradaptation of the mass, density and/or form of element 36.

Preferably, the element 36 is located in an oscillation chamber 37,preferably fanned by or in the feeding 20, mixing zone 22, channel 30 orinsert 17 or any other suitable component of the inhaler 1. The airstream 9, 23 and/or 24 can be supplied via a supply opening or channel38 to the chamber 37. In particular, the supply channel 38 is connectedto or formed by the feeding path 20 or channel 30 or insert 17 or anyother suitable component of the inhaler 1.

The supply channel 38 opens preferably to the oscillation chamber 37with a cross section that is preferably smaller than a cross section ofthe chamber 37 and element 36. The oscillation chamber 37 is preferablyblocked by a cover or blocking means 39, e.g. a grid, rib or the like,so that the element 36 cannot escape from the chamber 37. However, otherarrangements and/or fluidic connections are also possible.

The element 36 can preferably freely move in chamber 37 and/or is movedback and forth by the air stream 9, 23, 24 flowing through the chamber31 and, in particular set in oscillation, namely preferably along themain flow direction. Most preferably, the geometrical dimensions aresimilar or correspond to the respective measures given in EP 0 147 755A2 which is herewith introduced for additional disclosure and asreference.

The oscillation of the element 36 is preferably caused by the so-calledBernoulli effect. When oscillating, preferably the element 36periodically or repeatedly hits the opening of the supply channel 38and/or the blocking means 39. Thus, different effects may result whichsupport de-agglomeration and dispensing of the inhalation formulation.

One effect is that the oscillation of element 36 causes turbulences oreddies or the like in the chamber 37 which may enhance mixing and/orde-agglomeration.

Another effect of the element 36 is that it forms a hindrance orobstacle that has to be surrounded by the air stream 9 with theentrained inhalation formulation. The element 36 may form a deflectorand/or impactor. In particular, larger particles of the inhalationformulation may impact onto the element 36 or may be deflected. by theelement 36 so that de-agglomeration is enhanced.

A further effect is that the oscillating element 36 generates avibration such that the inhaler 1, the mouthpiece 8, the outlet tube 18,the feeding path 20, the piercing member 7, the blister pocket 3 and/orat least part of one of these or other components vibrate. This enhancesloosening and dc-agglomeration of the inhalation formulation. Inparticular, the blister pocket 3, e.g. its lid 27 and/or its base, canbe set in vibration.

According to an additional effect, the oscillating and/or vibratingdevice 35 or its oscillating element 36 may generate air pressurevariations or waves or oscillations resulting in better loosening orde-agglomeration of the inhalation formulation in particular, in theopened blister pocket 3.

The above effects can be achieved or realized independently from eachother and/or in any combinations thereof or altogether.

The oscillating and/or vibrating device 35 is preferably located withinthe mouthpiece 8, outlet tube 18, insert 17, feeding path 20, mixingzone 22, outlet channel 30 or downstream thereof.

The oscillating and/or vibrating device 35 or element 36 preferablyoscillates or vibrates with a vibration frequency of about 20 Hz to500(1 Hz, preferably 50 Hz to 500 Hz.

Most preferably, the mixing means and the oscillating/vibrating device35 are combined. This results in very effective de-agglomeration and, inis particular, in a generation of an aerosol cloud 11 with at leastessentially only fine particles of the inhalation formulation.

Preferably, the oscillating and/or vibrating device 35 is locateddownstream of the mixing means. However, any other arrangement is alsopossible.

FIG. 6 shows a further preformed embodiment of the inhaler 1 accordingto the present invention in a schematic sectional view similar to FIGS.3 and 5. The following description focuses also only on main differencesbetween this embodiment and the previous embodiments. The previousdescriptions, advantages, aspects and/or features preferably apply inaddition or in a similar manner.

The inhaler 1 comprises a second mixing means for generating a secondswirl or cyclone 40 as schematically shown in FIG. 6. Preferably, thesecond mixing means is constructed in a similar manner as the firstmixing means.

The second mixing means mixes in particular a second bypass air stream41 with the feeding air stream 23 and/or generates the second cyclone 40in the feeding path 20, insert 17, channel 30 and/or mixing zone orchamber 22 where the feeding air stream 23 and second bypass air stream41 are or have been mixed.

In the present embodiment, the second mixing means comprises preferablyat least one or two second bypass channels 42 feeding tangentiallyand/or transversally bypass air into the feeding path 20 or mixingchamber or the feeding air stream 23 already mixed with the first bypassair stream 24, in particularly downstream of the first mixingmeans/bypass channels 29.

Preferably, the second bypass channels 42 open to the feeding path 20,mixing chamber or outlet tube 18, in particular tangentially and/ortransversally to the main flow or dispensing direction of the feedingpath 20 or mouthpiece 8 or outlet tube 18.

The turbulences generated by the mixing means may result in lowering themean velocity of the generated aerosol cloud 11. A lower mean velocityis usually preferred, and, thus, improved discharged characteristics canbe achieved.

Preferably, the first mixing means generates the first cyclone 34 with afirst direction of rotation and the second mixing means generates thesecond cyclone 40 with a second direction of rotation opposite the firstone. This counter rotation results in optimized de-agglomeration of theinhalation formulation, in particular of larger particles of theinhalation formulation. This may be explained due to high shear forcesand/or turbulences or the like.

The two mixing means or its generated cyclones 34, 40 are preferablylocated one after the other or one above the other, in particularaxially spaced or axially one above the other with respect to the mainfeeding direction or dispensing direction or main extension of thefeeding path 20 or outlet tube 18 or mouth piece 8. However, otherarrangements are also possible.

It has to be noted that the two mixing means as described above arepreferred. However, two mixing means are not necessarily required, butpreferred in combination.

It has to be noted that FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 are only schematic sections andshow the bypass channels 29, 42 in the same plane although the channels29, 42 are preferably transversally offset relation to each other togenerate the cyclones 34, 40 with the desired direction of rotation.

Individual features and aspects of the described embodiments andalternatives may be combined as desired.

Preferably, the terms “blister strip” and “blister pockets” have to beunderstood in a very broad sense to cover also other kinds of storagemeans with receptacles or even bulk storages for the formulation.

List of reference numbers  1 inhaler  2 blister strip  3 blister pocket 4 reservoir  5 conveyor  5a onward movement  6 opening and/or removalposition  7 piercing member  8 mouthpiece  9 air stream 10 powder 11aerosol cloud 12 actuator  12a housing 13 receiving apparatus 14conveying wheel 15 mouthpiece cover 16 cover axis 17 insert 18 outlettube 19 air opening 20 feeding path 21 bypass path 22 mixing zone 23feeding air stream 24 bypass air steam 25 first piercing element 26second piercing element 27 lid 28 channel 29 bypass channel 30 outletchannel 31 impaction element 32 impaction surface 33 wall 34 firstcyclone 35 oscillating/vibrating device 36 oscillating element 37oscillation chamber 38 supply channel 39 blocking means 40 secondcyclone 41 second bypass air stream 42 second bypass channel

The invention claimed is:
 1. An inhaler (1) for delivery of an inhalation formulation from a blister strip (2) with a plurality of blister pockets (3) containing the inhalation formulation in doses, wherein the inhaler (1) comprises: a conveyor (5) for stepwise onward movement of the blister strip (2), and/or a piercing member (7) to puncture a lid (27) of an aligned blister pocket (3), the inhaler (1) being designed such that an air stream (9) of ambient air can be sucked or delivered by breathing during inhalation in order to discharge the respective dose from an opened blister pocket (3) and to deliver the respective dose with the ambient air as an aerosol cloud (11) via a mouthpiece (8), and the inhaler (1) comprises an oscillating and/or vibrating device (35) separate from the blister strip (2) for supporting de-agglomeration of the inhalation formulation and/or for vibrating at least part of the blister strip (2) and/or a piercing member (7) or any other component of the inhaler (1), wherein the oscillating and/or vibrating device (35) is located within the mouthpiece (8), within a feeding path (20) or downstream thereof, the oscillating and/or vibrating device (35) comprises an oscillating element (36), or is formed by the oscillating element (36), and the oscillating element (36) is located within a main flow of the feeding path and oscillates by moving back and forth along a longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece in the main flow direction of the feeding path (20) or mouthpiece (8).
 2. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein a first mixing means is located upstream the oscillating and/or vibrating device (29).
 3. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating and/or vibrating device (35) is operated by the air stream (9).
 4. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating element (36) forms an impactor or deflector for the air stream (9) and/or entrained inhalation formulation.
 5. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating element (36) is moveable freely in a chamber (37) connected to the feeding path (20) or formed by the feeding path (20).
 6. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating and/or vibrating device (35) uses the Bernoulli effect.
 7. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the inhaler (1) is designed such that the oscillating and/or vibrating device (35) or its oscillating element (36) oscillates or vibrates with a frequency of 20 Hz to 5000 Hz.
 8. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating and/or vibrating device (35) is located downstream of the mixing of a feeding air stream (23) with a bypass air stream (24).
 9. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the inhaler (1) comprises a molded and/or unitary insert (17) holding or forming the piercing member (7), wherein the insert (17) contains, comprises or forms the oscillating and/or vibrating device (35) and/or a first and/or a second mixing means.
 10. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating element (36) is a ball.
 11. The inhaler according to claim 1, wherein the oscillating element oscillates by moving back and forth along a center longitudinal axis of the mouthpiece. 